Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education, training and the state's statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by athletic trainers include primary care, injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. In order to seek certification a Master’s degree must be completed. 

Students who complete the 3+2 MS degree in Athletic Training will received a BS in Health Science and an MS in Athletic Training at the completion of the 3+2 curriculum. If the student does not complete the entire 3+2 curriculum they could receive the BS in Health Science with the Pre-Athletic Training concentration.

Accreditation

The Masters in Athletic Training Program At Colorado State University Pueblo located in Pueblo, Colorado is accredited by the:

Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)

2001 K Street NW, 3^rd Floor

Washington, DC  20006

844 462-2283

Website:  https://caate.net/program-info/697/

Initial Accreditation awarded:   03-02-2022

Students are strongly encouraged to work with the athletic training program, Board of Certification (BOC) and the applicable athletic training licensure board in the state they intend to pursue licensing to ensure all BOC certification and state licensure requirements will be satisfactorily met.

Athletic Training 3+2 Plan (BS/MS)

The MS in Athletic Training program 3+2 plan is designed to give the opportunity to qualified advanced-level undergraduate students to simultaneously pursue both the Baccalaureate (BS) and Master of Science (MS) degrees. Talented students are thus quickly moved toward expanding their academic and scientific horizons based on an individual student’s abilities and motivation. 

Student who are interested in becoming a Certified and Licensed Athletic Trainer will begin their degree in the BS in Health Science Pre-Athletic Training concentration. In the Junior Year Pre-AT students can apply to the 3+2 Athletic Training Program which will result in a BS degree in Health Science and an MS degree in Athletic Training after completing 3 years (90 credit hours) of undergraduate work and 2 years (60 credit hours) of graduate work. Students must meet the requirements of both degrees (BS in Health Science Pre-AT and MS in Athletic Training). Students who decide not to apply to the 3+2 program can graduate with a BS in Health Science with 120 credits of undergraduate course work and will be eligible to apply to the 2 year MS in Athletic Training after finishing a bachelor’s degree.

Students in the Pre-Athletic Training 3+2 Program should apply In December, bu no later than, January of the candidates junior year of the Health Science Pre-Athletic Training major. Deadline for first consideration is January 15 and final deadline is the 3rd Sunday in May. The program starts mid-June, the second 8 weeks of summer session, and the program is year round for two years. Please contact the program director, Dr. Mary Placzkowski at mary.placzkowski@csupueblo.edu for any questions concerning admission.

Specific Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements for ATCAS

Submit the following items to the Athletic Training Centralized Application System (ATCAS):

• Application for Admission
• Official transcripts from each college or university attended (including CSU Pueblo).  CSU Pueblo currently requires a 3.0 minimum grade point average for regular admission to a graduate program.
  • NOTE: If the candidate has been approved to continue the application process and apply to the Graduate School at CSU Pueblo the Program Director will contact the individual candidate. Additionally, the Program Director will upload transcripts into CSU Pueblo Application on behalf of the candidate. This can ONLY be done by the Program Director. 
• Cumulative undergraduate GPA = 3.0 at the end of junior year of the Health Sciences Pre-Athletic Training Emphasis.
• Satisfactory enrollment/completion of the first 90 hours of the Health Science Pre-AT concentration.
• Two letters of recommendation; one from a certified Athletic Trainer and one from an academic instructor.
  • NOTE: If the candidate has been approved to continue the application process and apply to the Graduate School at CSU Pueblo the Program Director will contact the individual candidate. Additionally, the Program Director will upload all recommendations into CSU Pueblo Application on behalf of the candidate. This can ONLY be done by the Program Director.
• 50 observation hours with a certified and state credentialed Athletic Trainer.

NOTE: Approval of completed ATCAS application is NOT acceptance into MS in Athletic Training Program. All candidates must be accepted through the Graduate School to be officially accepted into the program at CSU Pueblo.

Admission Requirements: Graduate School

Applicants must apply to the Athletic Training Centralized Application System (ATCAS) before the program area reviews the applicant’s request for admission. Failure to submit all required materials will delay the evaluation and screening of your application.

Submit the following items to the CSU Pueblo Graduate School Application

• Cumulative undergraduate GPA = 3.0 at the end of junior year of the Health Sciences Pre-Athletic Training Emphasis.
• Official transcripts from each college or university attended (including CSU Pueblo) to demonstrate satisfactory enrollment/completion of the first 90 hours of the Health Science Pre-AT concentration. CSU Pueblo currently requires a 3.0 minimum grade point average for regular admission to a graduate program.
  • NOTE: The Program Director will uploadr will upload transcripts into CSU Pueblo Application on behalf of the candidate upon approval of ATCAS completion. This can ONLY be done by the Program Director.
• Two letters of recommendation; one from a certified Athletic Trainer and one from an academic instructor.
  • NOTE: The Program Director will upload all recommendations into CSU Pueblo Application on behalf of the candidate upon approval of ATCAS completion. This can ONLY be done by the Program Director.
• 50 observation hours with a certified and state credentialed Athletic Trainer.

Program Admission Provisions

Full Admission-Student has met all the above-noted criteria and has completed a Baccalaureate degree;  Students applying in the Junior or final year of undergraduate education with courses in progress will receive notification of full admission with the understanding that the above-noted criteria will be met upon completion of the Junior year or undergraduate education.

Conditional Admission-Student has a GPA between 2.75-2.99 will complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better and meet other application criteria.  Students that receive Conditional Admission will be required to earn a GPA of 3.0 in the first MS AT summer session of the program.  Students not meeting this standard will automatically be dismissed from the program.

Deadlines

Students in the Athletic Training 3+2 Program should apply in the spring of the junior year of the Health Science Pre-Athletic Training major. Deadline for first consideration is January 15 and final deadline is May 1.  Cohort begin in mid-May and the program starts in the summer and is year round for two years. Please contact the program director, Dr. Mary Placzkowski at mary.placzkowski@csupueblo.edu for any questions concerning admission.

Documents Due After Acceptance into the Program

• Physical Exam
• Full immunization records including proof of COVID vaccination and influenza vaccination by November 1st
• TB test and completed TB form
• Completed technical standards form
• First Aid and CPR/AED for Professional Rescuer certification (or equivalent)

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrating competency and proficiency in the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) across the domains of athletic training is a foundational goal of the curriculum. Students are provided with comprehensive coursework that aligns with both current and future educational competencies as outlined by the Athletic Training Professional Standards. In addition, the curriculum integrates clinical experiences designed to cultivate student autonomy and ensure professional readiness for entry into the healthcare field.
2. Demonstrating cultural competence and inter-professional collaboration within the healthcare community are essential components of the curriculum. Students will engage in effective clinical exposure totaling a minimum of 25 hours, involving interactions with at least four distinct medical professional fields and/or healthcare providers. Through the design and evaluation of interprofessional projects, students will have the opportunity to actively demonstrate collaborative practices across disciplines. Additionally, students will gain exposure to at least three culturally diverse populations that reflect the ethnic and cultural heritage of the region, allowing them to develop and demonstrate cultural competence in real-world healthcare.
3. Students demonstrate evidence-based clinical practice by engaging in research, critically reviewing current literature, and applying validated findings to formulate effective care plans that promote positive patient outcomes. Through this process, they integrate evidence-based practice (EBP) into clinical patient care.
4. Students engage in the athletic training profession by actively participating in professional development opportunities, such as attending state, regional, or national conferences, and by continually seeking growth and advancement within the field.
5. Students are effectively prepared to enter the athletic training profession through comprehensive educational experiences that meet national employment criteria, deliver a high-quality and rigorous curriculum, and ensure graduates are well-equipped for professional practice. These experiences are further enriched by clinical preceptors and settings that provide appropriate clinical practice, mentorship, and opportunities for professional assimilation.

Outcomes Assessment Activities

• A range of tasks aligned to program standards, curriculum and instructional activities throughout the program provide multiple sources of evidence to assess performance on each program standard. These tasks include a range of examples of clinical skills and foundational learning, most of them authentic athletic training scenarios, including all of the following:
• Case logs for documentation of case information, treatment, rehabilitation, patient care, and plan for patient interactions.
• Preceptor evaluations of clinical experience and student learning.
• Practice exam test scores (Board of Certification exam), as well as teacher-constructed practical exams, written exams, and quizzes.
• Evidence of ability to understand and utilize research to improve practice.
• Evidence of inquiry (e.g., Evidence based practice, action research, case studies) to enhance practice.
• Projects, written assignments, and clinical skills assessments to evaluate knowledge based on CAATE Standards.

Specific Program Requirements

Program Overview

Students in the BS/MS program must complete:

• The requirements for the BS in Health Science Pre-Athletic Training degree.
• The requirements for the MS in Athletic Training degree.

A maximum of 12 required graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to both the declared undergraduate and graduate degree programs, except for programs requiring completion of more than 138 total hours.

General Education Requirements

¹

Students must have a math placement score of 6 (at least a 24 ACT score or 580 SAT score in math) to take MATH 156 Introduction to Statistics (GT-MA1) (3 c.h.).

Undergraduate Requirements 

²

Students interested in Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, or Medical School should take CHEM 121 General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) (4 c.h.) & CHEM 121L General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) (1 c.h.).

Graduate Requirements 

Planning Sheet

Disclaimer: The Planning Sheet is designed as a guide for student's planning their course selections. The information on this page provides only a suggested schedule. Actual course selections should be made with the advice and consent of an academic advisor. While accurately portraying the information contained in the college catalog, this form is not considered a legal substitute for that document. Students should become familiar with the catalog in effect at the time in which they entered the institution.